Systems, methods, and devices for package delivery using unmanned aerial vehicles

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods are disclosed for package delivery using unmanned aerial vehicles. Example methods may include positioning a first component at a first elevation, and operatively connecting the first component to a winch; positioning a second component at a second elevation higher than the first elevation; and configuring cable of a lifting component to: operatively connect to the first component and the second component, connect to and disconnect from a vehicle, and lift the vehicle from the first component towards the second component using the winch.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosure relates generally to unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) ordrones and more particularly relates to systems, methods, and devicesfor package delivery using UAVs.

BACKGROUND

An increasing number of packages are delivered to business, residential,and other locations daily. Package delivery of small quantities of itemsis often completed using a delivery truck, van, or other vehicle that isdriven by a human driver. The human may drive the vehicle betweendelivery locations and walk with a package up to or into a building,mailbox, or other location to deliver the package. In some embodiments,unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) (also referred to as drones herein) maybe used in a growing body of applications, including faster and cheaperpackage delivery.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a set of components for a package delivery systemusing UAVs, according to various embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 shows a diagram illustrating a set of components for a packagedelivery system using UAVs, according to various embodiments of thedisclosure.

FIG. 3 illustrates a diagram of a set of components for a packagedelivery system using UAVs with additional aerial components, accordingto various embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 illustrates a set of components within a UAV, according tovarious embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 illustrates a set of components within a mobile device with a UAVmanagement application, according to various embodiments of thedisclosure.

FIG. 6 illustrates a set of components of a UAV management engine usedfor scheduling and monitoring delivery drones, according to variousembodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 7 shows a diagram of a process flow for package delivery usingUAVs, in accordance with example embodiments of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present disclosure are described herein. It is to beunderstood, however, that the disclosed embodiments are merely examplesand other embodiments can take various and alternative forms. Thefigures are not necessarily to scale; some features could be exaggeratedor minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore,specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not tobe interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis forteaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the presentinvention. As those of ordinary skill in the art will understand,various features illustrated and described with reference to any one ofthe figures can be combined with features illustrated in one or moreother figures to produce embodiments that are not explicitly illustratedor described. The combinations of features illustrated providerepresentative embodiments for typical applications. Variouscombinations and modifications of the features consistent with theteachings of this disclosure, however, could be desired for particularapplications or implementations.

In some embodiments, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) (also referred toas drones herein) may be used in a growing body of applications,including faster and cheaper package delivery. In some embodiments,drone weight carrying capability may be limited by the additional powerand fuel required to take off and ascend to the given altitude fortravel. In various embodiments, systems, methods, and apparatuses aredescribed that serve to facilitate the transport of packages using UAVs.In one aspect, embodiments of the disclosure relate to package deliverythat include vertically transporting one or more packages and drones toan aerial component (e.g., a balloon or blimp) that is attached to aground component (e.g., a ground distribution center) by a winch system.In one aspect, the drone can couple (e.g., mechanically attach) topackage, and the assembly can then couple to the winch (e.g.,mechanically attach using a drone component such as an arm and hand tograb a cable of the winch system). The winch can thereby transport thedrone and package to the aerial component, where the drone may transportthe package to a destination without using the drone's on-board energysupply (e.g., electrical energy) to reach a given elevation needed fortransporting the package to the destination.

In one aspect, the winch may include a motor, and the motor may belocated at the ground and/or the aerial component. In one aspect, themotor may rotate the winch to elevate the package and the UAV to a givenelevation. In one aspect, the elevation of the package and the UAV maybe less than the elevation of the aerial component; further, theelevation may be determined at least in part on the range needed for theUAV to deliver the package. Further, the elevation may be determined bya power capacity of the UAV, a weight of the package, a weathercondition, an air density, and the like. Moreover, the elevation may bedetermined by a second, additional elevation determined for anyadditional efficiency desired by the drone operator. For example, theadditional elevation may serve to enable the UAV to glide more ifreleased from the winch line at a higher elevation. In one aspect, themotor of the winch system may operate continuously, and the UAV maysimultaneously determine the UAV's elevation using one or more UAVsensors (e.g., altitude sensors, one or more global positioning system(GPS) signals, and the like). In another aspect, when the UAV determinesthat the UAV has reached a pre-determined elevation, a component of theUAV (e.g., the UAV's arm and hand) may release from a cable associatedwith the winch system and then transport the package to its destination.

As noted, in some aspects, embodiments of the disclosure may include anaerial component. In one aspect, the aerial component may include apassive aerial element (e.g., a balloon such as a weather balloon), oran active aerial element (e.g., a blimp having a motor to maintain arelatively fixed position for a given duration of time, for example, byresisting wind currents).

In another aspect, the efficiency of the winch system may be increasedby other returning drones with packages that attach to the down side ofthe winch system (e.g., in a similar fashion to counterbalancing anelevator; see, for example, FIG. 1-3 below and related description).

In one aspect, the ground component may be mobile or may be stationary.For example, the ground component may include a vehicle such as a truckor at least a portion of a building. In another aspect, the vehicle maypark at a given location, raises the aerial component, and may beconfigured to operate a winch to elevate the packages and UAVs.

In another aspect, there may be aerial components connected to two ormore ground components (e.g., two or more ground distribution centers).In another aspect, a first aerial component may be associated withpackage delivery, and a second aerial component may be associated withpackage reception. In one aspect, a package at a first distributioncenter may be elevated up toward a first aerial component (e.g., a firstballoon A) using a first winch line and a winch system; then, a UAV maytransport the package to a second winch line attached to a second aerialcomponent (e.g., a second balloon B). In another aspect, the package maybe lowered via the second winch line to a second distribution center.This way the drone may remain at a higher altitude during transport,which has less air drag because of the lower air density at higherelevation. Further, embodiments of the disclosure may enable a moreenergy efficient systems, methods, and apparatuses to raise packages anddrones up to the predetermined altitude, thereby providing energysavings.

In some aspects, the mobile ground components may be arrangedstrategically to cover a given geographical area for a given period oftime. For example, during periods of high demand for packages (e.g.,during holiday seasons, during disaster relief operations, etc.),several mobile ground components may be arranged in a given pattern in acity or county to most efficiently distribute the packages to differentsites for a period of time, such as for a day, a week, or longer.

FIG. 1 shows a diagram of an example UAV and package delivery system, inaccordance with example embodiments of the disclosure. In one aspect,the UAV and package delivery system 100 includes a ground component 102.In another aspect, the ground component 102 may include a charging unit(e.g., a battery) for charging the UAV. The charging unit may beconfigured to wirelessly charge the UAV.

In another aspect, the ground component 102 can include a ground-baseddistribution center. In another aspect, the distribution center mayinclude a warehouse or other specialized building, often withrefrigeration or air conditioning, which may be stocked with products(goods) to be redistributed to other distribution centers, retailers,wholesalers, or directly to consumers. In one aspect, a distributioncenter can also be referred to as a warehouse, a fulfillment center, across-dock facility, a bulk break center, and/or a package handlingcenter. In one aspect, the name of the distribution center may be basedon the purpose of the operation. For example, a retail distributioncenter may distribute goods to retail stores, an order fulfillmentcenter may distribute goods directly to consumers, and a cross-dockfacility may store distributes goods to other destination. In oneaspect, the distribution center may range in size from less thanapproximately 50,000 square feet (5,000 square meters) to theapproximately 3 million square feet (300,000 square meters).

In another aspect, the distribution center may include three main areasand additional specialized areas. In one aspect, the three main areasmay include a receiving area or dock, a storage area, and a shippingarea or dock. In smaller ground components, it may be possible for thereceiving and shipping functions to occur side by side. In anotheraspect, the receiving dock can also be specialized based on the handlingcharacteristics of freight being received, on whether the product isgoing into storage or directly to a store, or by a type of vehicledelivering the product.

In another aspect, the ground component 102 may include a mobilecomponent (e.g., a vehicle such as a truck). In particular, the type ofvehicle may include a specialized vehicle to deliver a particular typeof product. For example, the mobile ground component may includesemi-trailers that are outfitted with various trailers such as boxtrailers, flatbeds, car carriers, tanks and other specialized trailers.The mobile ground component may further include armored cars, dumptrucks and concrete mixers. In one aspect, the mobile ground componentmay include passenger vehicles that may be used for delivery of goods.Non-limiting examples include buses, vans, pick-ups, and cars (e.g., formail or pizza delivery). In one aspect, the mobile component may includea fixture (not shown) such that other components of the winch system 105(to be discussed below), such as a motor or a spool may be affixed.

In another aspect, the UAV and package delivery system 100 may include awinch system 105. In one aspect, a winch system (alternatively simplyreferred to as a winch herein) may refer to a mechanical device that maybe used to pull in (wind up) or let out (wind out) or otherwise adjustthe tension of a rope 108 or wire rope (also called cable or wireherein). The winch may include a spool 112 and attached hand crank (notshown) or motor 110. In another aspect, the winch system 105 have gearassemblies (not shown) and can be powered by motors 110 that may includeelectric, hydraulic, pneumatic or internal combustion drives. In anotheraspect, the winch system 105 may include a solenoid brake and/or amechanical brake or ratchet and pawl device (e.g., a pivoted curved baror lever whose free end engages with the teeth of a cogwheel or ratchetso that the wheel or ratchet can only turn or move one way) thatprevents it from unwinding unless the pawl is retracted. In one aspect,the rope 108 may include a 1,000 to 1,600-metre (3,000 to 5,500 ft)cable, made of high-tensile steel wire or a synthetic fibre.

In one aspect, the rope 108 may be stored on a portion of the winchsystem 105 (e.g., prior to assembly). In one aspect, for setting up thewinch system 105 to an aerial component 104 and a ground component 102,a user may turn a winch handle (not shown) with one hand, while tailing(pulling on the loose tail end) with the other to maintain tension onthe rope. A user may be an individual, a family, a company, anorganization, an entity, a department within an organization, arepresentative of an organization and/or person, and/or the like. In oneexample, users may be employees, residents, customers, and/or the like.

In another aspect, the winch system 105 may include a snubbing winch(not shown). In another aspect, the snubbing winch may include avertical spool (similar, but not identical to spool 112) with a ratchetmechanism similar to a conventional winch, but with no crank handle orother form of drive. In one aspect, the line may be wrapped around thespool and can be tightened and reeled in by pulling the tail line, thewinch takes the load once the pull is stopped with little operatortension needed to hold it. The snubbing winch may also allow controlledrelease of the tension by the operator using the friction of the linearound the ratcheted spool. In one aspect, the snubbing winch may beused to supplement and relieve tension on the primary winch mechanisms.

In another aspect, the winch system 105 may include an air winch (alsoreferred to as an air hoist or air tugger). In one aspect, the air winchmay include an air-powered version of a winch. In another aspect, theair winch may be used over an electric, diesel, and hydraulic winches inapplication requiring enhanced durability, versatility, and/or safety.

In another aspect, the UAV and package delivery system 100 may includean aerial component 104. The aerial component 104 may include a blimp.In another aspect, a blimp, or non-rigid airship, may refer to anairship or barrage balloon without an internal structural framework or akeel. Unlike semi-rigid and rigid airships (e.g. Zeppelins), blimps mayrely on the pressure of the lifting gas (usually helium, rather thanhydrogen) inside the envelope and the strength of the envelope itself tomaintain their shape.

In another aspect, the aerial component 104 may include a gas balloon.In one aspect, the gas balloon may include a balloon that flies in theair because it is filled with a gas less dense than air or lighter thanair (such as helium or hydrogen). The gas balloon may be tied to athread (and coupled to the ground component 102) to prevent it fromflying up in the air. The gas balloon may also be sealed at the bottomto ensure that the gas does not escape.

In one aspect, the aerial component 104 may include a thermal airship.In one aspect, the thermal airship may include an airship that generatesbuoyancy by heating air in a large chamber or envelope. The lowerdensity of interior hot air compared to cool ambient air causes anupward force on the envelope. The thermal airship may be similar to ahot air balloon; however, the thermal airship may have a powered meansof propulsion, whilst a hot air balloon relies on winds for navigation.

In one aspect, the UAV and package delivery system 100 may include a UAVand/or a package 106. As used herein the terms drone or unmanned aerialvehicles (UAV) may refer to vehicles that are capable of flight and/ornavigation with little or no real-time human input. For example,embodiments of drones or aerial vehicles may deliver packages from aground component 102 to a delivery location with little or no input froma local or remote human operator. However, it will be appreciated thatembodiments of drones or aerial vehicles disclosed herein may alsodeliver packages from a ground vehicle to a delivery location with someinput from a local or remote human operator.

FIG. 2 shows a diagram illustrating set of components for a packagedelivery system using UAVs, according to various embodiments of thedisclosure. In one aspect, the UAV and package delivery system 200 mayinclude drone 207. In one aspect, the UAV 207 may include

In another aspect, the UAV 207 may include a fastening mechanism 206,such as a hook and loop attachment mechanism. In one aspect, a package209 may be placed in a container (not shown) having a loop structure(not shown) on the container, or the package 209 may be wrapped in cable(not shown) on all four sides where the cable may have a loop structure(not shown) on one side of the wrapped package 209 (e.g., the top of thewrapped package 209). In one aspect, the fastening mechanism 206 mayinclude a rod having a hook (not shown) on the end of the rod. The rodcan be configured to couple to the loop structure of the wrapped package209. Alternatively or additionally, the UAV 207 may have a U-shaped loopstructure (not shown) on the bottom side of the UAV 207. Further, a rodmay be pre-attached to the package 209 and the hook may grab onto themetal U-shaped loop on the UAV 207.

In another aspect, the UAV 207 may include a fastening mechanism 206that includes a forklift system that allows the UAV 207 to support orhold a package 209 or other payload. In one embodiment, the fasteningmechanism 206 comprising the forklift system may include prongs or tines(not shown), which may be placed under package 209 or payload to holdthe package 209. For example, the prongs or tines may extend in adirection in relation to the UAV 207 that is generally horizontal duringflight. For example, a UAV 207 may tilt and turn during flight, but maygenerally have a default horizontal position, such as the position ofthe UAV 207 when it lands on the ground or when the UAV 207 hovers. Thetines or prongs may be substantially horizontal in that they aresubstantially or approximately parallel to a fuselage or frame of theUAV 207 when the UAV 207 is in a hovering or resting position.

The forklift system also may include an extension mechanism configuredto selectively retract and extend tines or prongs. The extensionmechanism may include a mast, rod, telescopic cylinders and/or anylength-adjustable mechanism for adjusting a distance of the elongatedmembers (or fork) from a body of the UAV 207. For example, the extensionmechanism may extend below the UAV 207 and support the elongated membersat some distance from an underside of a fuselage of the UAV 207, or anyother opposing surface. The distance between the elongated members andthe opposing surface may determine what height of package or payload canbe held by the forklift system and/or the UAV 207.

In one aspect, the UAV 207 may include sensors (not shown) for sensingor identifying objects or surfaces in an environment near the UAV 207.In one embodiment, the sensors may be used to obtain or detectidentifying information on a package 209 or payload. For example, thesensors may include an optical sensor or tag reader configured to readidentifying information from the tag or barcode. Example sensors mayinclude a camera, RFID tag reader, laser barcode scanner, or the like.

In one aspect, the UAV 207 may include an identification component (notshown) that is configured to identify one or more potential packages.For example, the sensors may scan/image each package or payload theyencounter and the identification component may identify eachscanned/imaged package or payload based on the sensor data. In oneembodiment, the identification component may identify a package orpayload by determining a serial number or other identifier correspondingto the package or payload. For example, a tag or barcode may be read todetermine the identity of a payload. In one embodiment, the UAV mayreceive instruction to deliver a specific package and the identificationcomponent may identify packages until a match for the specific packageis found.

Based on the identity, or identifying information, the identificationcomponent may determine one or more characteristics for the package orpayload. In one embodiment, the identification component may determine aserial number or unique identifier for a package and then query, via aradio, a database for characteristics or requirements for the package.The identification component may determine one or more dimensions of apackage. The dimensions may be needed to allow the forklift system toaccommodate and/or hold the package. The identification component mayidentify a delivery location based on an identity of the payload. Thedelivery location may include an address, GPS location, or the like. Thedelivery location may include enough information to allow the UAV 207 tofly to and deliver the package.

In one aspect, the UAV 207 may include a size component configured todetermine a dimension of the payload. For example, the size componentmay determine a vertical height, horizontal height, or depth of thepackage. The size component may determine the dimension based on datagathered by the identification component or may determine the size basedon a camera image or other data. The size component may also determine aweight or other information about the package relative to delivery.

In one aspect, the UAV 207 may include a length component configured tocontrol an extension mechanism of the forklift system of the fasteningmechanism 206 to adjust a distance between the opposing surface and theone or more elongated members. For example, the length component mayactuate a mast (not shown) of the forklift system so that there issufficient vertical height between the forks (elongated members) and anunderside of a fuselage to accommodate the payload. As another example,the length component may retract the mast completely when there is nopayload (e.g., upon unloading a payload and returning to a warehouse,vehicle, or package location). The length component may also actuate themast to maintain a gripping force on a payload, when applicable. In oneembodiment, the length component may adjust the height during flight ormay land to perform height adjustments for the forklift system.

In one aspect, the UAV 207 may include a load component (not shown)configured to control the UAV 207 to load a payload. In one embodiment,the load component causes the UAV 207 to fly or move the UAV 207 toposition the payload between the one or more elongated mechanisms andthe opposing surface. For example, the load component may cause a flightsystem of the UAV 207 to fly the UAV 207 to position the forks orelongated members of the forklift system underneath a target package andan opposing surface (such as an underside of a fuselage) above thetarget package. For example, the elongated members may be positionedunder or in a cardboard crate underneath the package or payload. Oncethe UAV 207 is positioned, the length component may retract the mast ofthe forklift system to secure and/or grip the payload between the one ormore elongated mechanisms and an opposing surface. When the payload issecured, the UAV 207 may be ready for attachment to the ground component(e.g., ground component 102) for payload delivery.

In one aspect, the UAV 207 may include an unload component (not shown)which may be configured to control the UAV 207 to release or unload apayload once delivered to a given destination. For example, after flyingto a delivery destination the unload component may cause the UAV 207 toperform an unload procedure. In one embodiment, the unload component maycause the forklift system to increase a distance between the at leastone elongated member and the opposing surface to release the payload. Inone embodiment, the unload component may additionally cause the UAV 207to tilt the UAV 207 in a first direction and fly or move the UAV 207 ina second direction substantially opposite the first direction to causethe payload to slide off of the at least one elongated member. Inanother aspect, a vertical take-off UAVs 207 with rotors may move in adirection of tilt rather than in a direction opposite tilt. However,when unloading there are often different forces involved than ingeneralized flying situations. For example, the movement of the packagedue to release of the forklift mechanism, contact of the package withthe ground, delivery box, or the like may produce forces that allow theUAV 207 to tilt in one direction and fly in the opposite direction. Inone embodiment, the unload component may set the package and/or acardboard crate on the ground or other surface for delivery and then flysideways to unload the payload.

The UAV may optionally include mission instruments such as a camera,microphones, equipment fastener hooks, at least one screen, soundingballoons, or small pieces of equipment specific to a destination.According to another aspect, the UAV may be fitted with measuringequipment, e.g., in order to take samples of the atmosphere so as todetect signs of pollution.

In one embodiment, the UAV may scan one or more packages using a sensorthat can read a quick response (QR) code, bar code, text, or the like toidentify a package. For example, the UAV may include a camera or otheroptical sensor. In one embodiment, the UAV may scan the one or morepackages using another type of reader such as a radio-frequencyidentification (RFID) tag reader to read RFID tags.

In various aspects, based on the identity of the package, box, orpayload, the UAV may determine metadata about the package. For example,the information read from the tag or code may include the metadata ormay include a key to look up the metadata in a database or table. Themetadata for the package, box, or payload may include a height of thepackage, a delivery destination (e.g., GPS or address information), orthe like.

As noted, embodiments of devices and systems (and their variouscomponents) described herein can employ (AI) to facilitate automatingone or more features described herein (e.g., performing objectrecognition, determining optimal routes, picking up and deliveringpackages, and the like). The components can employ various AI-basedschemes for carrying out various embodiments/examples disclosed herein.To provide for or aid in the numerous determinations (e.g., determine,ascertain, infer, calculate, predict, prognose, estimate, derive,forecast, detect, compute) described herein, components described hereincan examine the entirety or a subset of the data to which it is grantedaccess and can provide for reasoning about or determine states of thesystem, environment, etc. from a set of observations as captured viaevents and/or data. Determinations can be employed to identify aspecific context or action, or can generate a probability distributionover states, for example. The determinations can be probabilistic—thatis, the computation of a probability distribution over states ofinterest based on a consideration of data and events. Determinations canalso refer to techniques employed for composing higher-level events froma set of events and/or data.

Such determinations can result in the construction of new events oractions from a set of observed events and/or stored event data, whetherthe events are correlated in close temporal proximity, and whether theevents and data come from one or several event and data sources.Components disclosed herein can employ various classification(explicitly trained (e.g., via training data) as well as implicitlytrained (e.g., via observing behavior, preferences, historicalinformation, receiving extrinsic information, etc.)) schemes and/orsystems (e.g., support vector machines, neural networks, expert systems,Bayesian belief networks, fuzzy logic, data fusion engines, etc.) inconnection with performing automatic and/or determined action inconnection with the claimed subject matter. Thus, classification schemesand/or systems can be used to automatically learn and perform a numberof functions, actions, and/or determinations.

A classifier can map an input attribute vector, z=(z1, z2, z3, z4, . . ., zn), to a confidence that the input belongs to a class, as byf(z)=confidence(class). Such classification can employ a probabilisticand/or statistical-based analysis (e.g., factoring into the analysisutilities and costs) to determinate an action to be automaticallyperformed. A support vector machine (SVM) can be an example of aclassifier that can be employed. The SVM operates by finding ahyper-surface in the space of possible inputs, where the hyper-surfaceattempts to split the triggering criteria from the non-triggeringevents. Intuitively, this makes the classification correct for testingdata that is near, but not identical to training data. Other directedand undirected model classification approaches include, e.g., naïveBayes, Bayesian networks, decision trees, neural networks, fuzzy logicmodels, and/or probabilistic classification models providing differentpatterns of independence can be employed. Classification as used hereinalso is inclusive of statistical regression that is utilized to developmodels of priority.

FIG. 3 illustrates a diagram of a set of components for a packagedelivery system using UAVs with additional aerial components, accordingto various embodiments of the disclosure. In one aspect, diagram 300shows ground component 102. As noted, the ground component 102 caninclude a stationary component such as a ground-based distributioncenter, or a mobile component such as a vehicle. For furtherdescription, please refer to the discussion of FIG. 1, above. In anotheraspect, diagram 300 shows aerial component 104. As noted, the aerialcomponent 104 may include a balloon, a blimp, or a thermal airship, orthe like. For further description, please refer to the discussion ofFIG. 1, above. In one aspect, diagram 300 shows winch 105. For furtherdescription, please refer to the discussion of FIG. 1, above.

In another aspect, diagram 300 shows a path 310 between the aerialcomponent 104 and a second aerial component 304. For furtherdescription, please refer to the discussion of FIG. 1, above. In oneaspect, diagram 300 shows second aerial component 304. For furtherdescription, please refer to the discussion of the aerial component 104as shown and described in connection with, above. In another aspect,diagram 300 shows second winch 308. For further description, pleaserefer to the discussion of winch 105 as shown and described inconnection with FIG. 1, above. In one aspect, diagram 300 shows secondground component 322. For further description, please refer to thediscussion of ground component 102 as shown and described in connectionwith, above.

In another aspect, diagram 300 indicates that there may be aerialcomponents (e.g., aerial component 104 and 304) connected to two or moreground components (e.g., ground components 102 and 322 which mayrepresent, for example, two or more ground distribution centers). Inanother aspect, an aerial component 104 may be associated with packagedelivery, and the second aerial component 322 may be associated withpackage reception. In one aspect, a package at the ground component 102(e.g., a first distribution center) may be elevated up toward a firstaerial component 104 (e.g., a first balloon A) using a first winch lineand a winch system 105; then, a UAV (not shown) may transport thepackage to a second winch line associated with the second winch system308, which may be attached to a second aerial component 324 (e.g., asecond balloon B). In another aspect, the package may be lowered via thesecond winch line to a second ground component 322 (e.g., a seconddistribution center). In this way, UAVs may remain at a higher altitudeduring transport (e.g., compare the altitude of path 310 with thechanging altitude of path 312), which has less air drag because of thelower air density at higher elevation. Further, such embodiments mayenable a more energy efficient systems, methods, and apparatuses toraise packages and drones up to the predetermined altitude, therebyproviding energy savings.

In some aspects, as noted, the mobile ground components (e.g., groundcomponents 102 and 322, and the like) may be arranged strategically tocover a given geographical area for a given period of time. For example,during periods of high demand for packages (e.g., during holidayseasons, during disaster relief operations, etc.), several mobile groundcomponents may be arranged in a given pattern in a city or county tomost efficiently distribute the packages to different sites for a periodof time, such as for a day, a week, or longer.

FIG. 4 represents a diagram showing a set of components associated witha UAV, according to various embodiments of the disclosure. Inparticular, the UAV or drone may include a power supply 405 (e.g.,battery), a memory 410 (e.g., volatile memory and/or nonvolatilememory), processor(s) 415 for executing instructions and performingcalculations, sensors 420, navigation system 425, communication system430, image processing module 435, inertial measurement unit (IMU) 440,global positioning system (GPS) 445, package evaluation module 450, andfingerprint reader 455.

In one embodiment, the communication system 430 may also include one ormore communications interfaces for communicating with various computingentities, such as by communicating data, content, information, and/orsimilar terms used herein interchangeably that can be transmitted,received, operated on, processed, displayed, stored, and/or the like.Such communication may be executed using a wired data transmissionprotocol, such as fiber distributed data interface (FDDI), digitalsubscriber line (DSL), Ethernet, asynchronous transfer mode (ATM), framerelay, data over cable service interface specification (DOCSIS), or anyother wired transmission protocol. Similarly, the communication system430 may be configured to communicate via wireless external communicationnetworks using any of a variety of protocols, such as general packetradio service (GPRS), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS),Code Division Multiple Access 2000 (CDMA2000), CDMA2000 1×(1×RTT),Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), TimeDivision-Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access (TD-SCDMA), Long TermEvolution (LTE), Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network(E-UTRAN), Evolution-Data Optimized (EVDO), High Speed Packet Access(HSPA), High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA), IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi),Wi-Fi Direct, 802.16 (WiMAX), ultra wideband (UWB), infrared (IR)protocols, near field communication (NFC) protocols, Zigbee, Bluetoothprotocols, wireless universal serial bus (USB) protocols, and/or anyother wireless protocol.

Processor(s) 415 are the main processors of drone which may includeapplication processors, various coprocessors, and other dedicatedprocessors for operating drone. Processor(s) 415 may be communicablycoupled with memory 410 and configured to run the operating system, userinterfaces, sensors 420, navigation system 425, communication system430, image processing module 435, and/or other components. In someembodiments, processor(s) 415 may include multiple dedicated or sharedprocessors configured to perform signal processing (e.g. basebandprocessors for cellular communications), implement/manage real-timeradio transmission operations, of the drone, make navigation decisions(e.g., compute flight paths, implement obstacle avoidance routines,etc.). These processors along with the other components may be poweredby power supply 405. The volatile and nonvolatile memories found invarious embodiments may include storage media for storing informationsuch as processor-readable instructions, data structures, programmodules, or other data. Some examples of information that may be storedinclude basic input/output systems (BIOS), operating systems, andapplications.

Sensors 420 may be used to detect events or changes in the surroundingenvironment and produce a corresponding signal that can be acted upon byvarious components within the delivery drone or transmitted to otherparts of the drone delivery infrastructure. In some embodiments, sensors420 may include one or more of the following: a microphone, a camera, athermostat, an accelerometer, light sensors, motion sensors, moisturesensors, fingerprint readers, retinal scanners, chemical sensors,scales, LIDAR, RADAR, and the like. Several of these sensors, forexample, may be used as part of navigation system 425. Other sensors maybe used to evaluate the package or record the environment. As anotherexample, battery life can vary significantly based on temperature. Assuch, the temperature reading from the thermostat may be used to moreaccurately predict the range of the delivery drone. In some embodiments,the signal generated by the microphone can be used to determine thenoise level of the surrounding environment and to record a voice messageor identification from a user inserting or removing a package. Stillyet, sensors 420 may include credit card readers for accepting payments,including Bluetooth or near field communication (NFC) systems.

Navigation system 425 can be responsible for determining the flight pathof delivery drone. In some embodiments, high-level instructions orpick-up/drop-off destinations can be communicated to the drone viacommunication system 430. Navigation system 425 may receive inputs frommultiple sensors 420 (e.g., accelerometers, gyroscopes, LIDAR, RADAR,etc.), image processing module 435, inertial measurement unit (IMU) 440,and/or GPS 445 to determine optimal flight paths, detect and avoidobjects, coordinate with other nearby drones using communication system430, and the like. For example, IMU 440 can determine the deliverydrone's orientation and velocity.

According to one embodiment, the navigation system 425 may includelocation determining aspects, devices, modules, functionalities, and/orsimilar words used herein interchangeably. For example, the navigationsystem 425 may include outdoor positioning aspects, such as a locationmodule adapted to acquire, for example, latitude, longitude, altitude,geocode, course, direction, heading, speed, universal time (UTC), date,and/or various other information/data. In one embodiment, the locationmodule can acquire data, sometimes known as ephemeris data, byidentifying the number of satellites in view and the relative positionsof those satellites. The satellites may be a variety of differentsatellites, including Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite systems,Department of Defense (DOD) satellite systems, the European UnionGalileo positioning systems, the Chinese Compass navigation systems,Indian Regional Navigational satellite systems, and/or the like.Alternatively, the location information can be determined bytriangulating the drone's position in connection with a variety of othersystems, including cellular towers, Wi-Fi access points, and/or thelike. Similarly, the navigation system 425 may include indoorpositioning aspects, such as a location module adapted to acquire, forexample, latitude, longitude, altitude, geocode, course, direction,heading, speed, time, date, and/or various other information/data. Someof the indoor systems may use various position or location technologiesincluding RFID tags, indoor beacons or transmitters, Wi-Fi accesspoints, cellular towers, nearby computing devices (for examplesmartphones, laptops) and/or the like. For instance, such technologiesmay include the iBeacons, Gimbal proximity beacons, Bluetooth Low Energy(BLE) transmitters, NFC transmitters, and/or the like. These indoorpositioning aspects can be used in a variety of settings to determinethe location of someone or something to within inches or centimeters.

FIG. 4 illustrates a set of components within a delivery UAV, accordingto various embodiments of the disclosure. In another aspect, the dronemay include a package evaluation module 450 that can use input fromsensors 420, image processing module 435, and/or fingerprint reader 455to determine whether to accept the package from the user. For example,package evaluation module 450 may request user authentication viafingerprint reader 455 and/or another biometric reader. If the readingdoes not match the record on file (e.g., from an initial registrationwith the delivery system), then the package evaluation module 450 maydetermine to not accept the package. As another example, a scale may beused to measure the weight of the package. If package evaluation module450 determines that the package exceeds a maximum weight for thedelivery drone, then the package may be denied.

Package evaluation module 450 may use multiple different types ofsensors 420 to make a determination. For example, package evaluationmodule 450 may use the image processing module 435 to identify the sizeand/or type of package, various types of chemical sensors to detectpossible explosives, barcode readers to identify an originator/packer,as well as others. In some embodiments, the package analysis governed bypackage evaluation module 450 could be a combination of: X-Ray ofpackages and/or chemical sensors to ensure hazardous packages are notsent. In some embodiments, the delivery drones may also include adisplay (e.g., a liquid crystal display) or interface with a mobiledevice (e.g., via a personal area network, Bluetooth, cellular network,etc.) to confirm with the user that no hazardous packages (e.g., listedon the display) are included in the shipment. If no confirmation isreceived, the package evaluation module 450 may refuse the delivery.

FIG. 5 illustrates a set of components within a mobile device with adrone management application according to various embodiments of thedisclosure. The drone management application may be used to configureaspects of the UAVs in association with the aerial components, winches,and/or ground components described above. As shown in FIG. 5, mobiledevice 500 may include memory 505 (e.g., volatile memory and/ornonvolatile memory), power supply 510 (e.g., battery), processor(s) 515for executing processing instructions, and operating system 520.Additional components such as data storage component 525 (e.g., harddrive, flash memory, memory card, etc.), one or more network interfaces(e.g., Bluetooth Interface 530; and network communication interface 535,which enables the mobile phone to communicate by transmitting andreceiving wireless signals using licensed, semi-licensed or unlicensedspectra over a telecommunications network), audio interface 540,microphone 545, display 550, keypad or keyboard 555, and other inputand/or output interfaces 560 (e.g. a fingerprint reader or otherbiometric sensor/security feature). The various components of a mobiledevice may be interconnected via a bus.

Processor(s) 515 are the main processors of mobile device 500, and theymay include application processors, baseband processors, variouscoprocessors, and other dedicated processors for operating mobile device500. For example, an application processor can provide the processingpower to support software applications, memory management, graphicsprocessing, and multimedia. An application processor may be communicablycoupled with memory 505 and configured to run the operating system, theuser interface, and the applications stored on memory 505 or datastorage component 525. A baseband processor may be configured to performsignal processing and implement/manage real-time radio transmissionoperations of mobile device 500. These processors along with the othercomponents may be powered by power supply 510. The volatile andnonvolatile memories found in various embodiments may include storagemedia for storing information such as processor-readable instructions,data structures, program modules, or other data. Some examples ofinformation that may be stored include basic input/output systems(BIOS), operating systems, and applications.

In accordance with some embodiments, drone application 565 may beinstalled on mobile device 500. Drone application 565 may be used toregister a user, confirm pick-up/drop-off locations and/or times, conveythe current location of a delivery drone, provide real-time video orimages from a delivery done, reschedule pick-up/drop-offtimes/locations, and the like.

FIG. 6 illustrates a set of components 600 of a drone management engineused for scheduling and monitoring delivery drones according to variousembodiments of the present technology. As illustrated in FIG. 6, dronemanagement engine may allow user 610 to interface with GUI 620 torequest a drone pick-up. GUI 620 (e.g., generated via drone/mobileapplication 565) can then transmit the request to scheduling coordinator630. Scheduling coordinator 630 is responsible for efficientlyscheduling the delivery drone. Scheduling coordinator 630 may baseselection of the delivery drone from the fleet based on current dronelocations, package information, user preferences, battery power, weatherconditions, and/or other preference or constraint.

In some cases, scheduling coordinator 630 may need to request theservices of broker 640 or prioritization module 650 to determine whichdrones should be allocated to which request. For example, in someembodiments, the drones may be owned and operated by multiple differentoperators. As such, broker 640 can take bids for the current jobrequest. The bids can be received through various automated auctions(e.g., reverse auction, Dutch auction, blind auction, etc.) In othercases, preferred providers may be offered a right of first refusal on afixed price. Still yet, in some embodiments, scheduling coordinator 630may provide a small set of drones determined to be a good fit for thedelivery request. Once these are received, broker 640 can determinewhich drone to use based on bidding, next in queue, and the like. Usingthese and other techniques, broker 640 can identify to schedulingcoordinator 630 a delivery drone that can complete the delivery. Onceselected, scheduling coordinator 630 can use various communications(e.g., wireless networks) to convey the instructions to the selecteddelivery drone.

When multiple requests are received, scheduling coordinator 630 may useprioritization module 650 to determine a priority for completing therequests. Prioritization module 650 can use factors such as, but notlimited to, user priorities, current wait times, drone locations, andthe like. In some cases, one or more governmental agencies or regulatorscan issue requests for one or more drones to deviate from their deliveryschedule. For example, when a drone is schedule to cross countryborders, a request for deviation to comply with customs inspections maybe processed using management portal 660.

As another example, firefighter or police agencies may set up temporaryor permanent no-fly zones. Still yet, police may request that a deliverydrone land for execution of a search warrant or other reasons. In someembodiments, the drone delivery system may use features of thecommunications network to prioritize or enhance communications. Forexample, the drone delivery system may use the E911 system in a cellularnetwork to effectively deliver needed supplies to first responders withthe delivery drones. Examples of supplies may include drugs (e.g.anti-venom), neutralizing agent (e.g., to Haz-Mat team), water, clothes,tools, and the like. All of these requests are handed through managementportal 660.

Drone database 670 logs the current status of each drone. In addition,some drones provide streaming video or images of selected (e.g., pick-upand drop-off) parts of their flight. These media may be stored in dronedatabase 670. In addition, drone management engine 140 may includereport module 680 for generating reports based on performance datalogged in performance database 690.

FIG. 7 shows a diagram 700 of an example process flow for using UAVs forpackage delivery, in accordance with example embodiments of thedisclosure. At block 702, a vehicle (e.g., a UAV) configured totransport a payload may be docked to a mounting component of a groundcomponent. In another aspect, the ground component can include aground-based distribution center. In another aspect, the distributioncenter may include three main areas and additional specialized areas. Inone aspect, the three main areas may include a receiving area or dock, astorage area, and a shipping area or dock. In smaller ground components,it may be possible for the receiving and shipping functions to occurside by side. In another aspect, the receiving dock can also bespecialized based on the handling characteristics of freight beingreceived, on whether the product is going into storage or directly to astore, or by a type of vehicle delivering the product.

In another aspect, the ground component may include a mobile component(e.g., a vehicle such as a truck). In particular, the type of vehiclemay include a specialized vehicle to deliver a particular type ofproduct. For example, the mobile ground component may includesemi-trailers that are outfitted with various trailers such as boxtrailers, flatbeds, car carriers, tanks and other specialized trailers.Further, the mobile component may have a dedicated mounting component.

At block 704, the vehicle may be fastened to a winch of the mountingcomponent. In one aspect, the winch may include a mechanical device thatmay be used to pull in (wind up) or let out (wind out) or otherwiseadjust the tension of a rope or cable. The winch may include of a spooland attached hand crank or motor. In one aspect, the UAV can couple(e.g., mechanically attach) to package, and the assembly can then coupleto the winch (e.g., mechanically attach using a drone component such asan arm and hand to grab a cable of the winch system).

At block 706, a lifting component may be used to lift the vehiclevertically to a first elevation using a motor and a cable. In anotheraspect, the winch system may have gear assemblies and can be powered bymotors that may include electric, hydraulic, pneumatic or internalcombustion drives. In one aspect, the motor may rotate the winch toelevate the package and the UAV to a given elevation. In one aspect, theelevation of the package and the UAV may be less than the elevation ofthe aerial component; further, the elevation may be determined at leastin part on the range needed for the UAV to deliver the package. Further,the elevation may be determined a power capacity of the UAV, a weight ofthe package, a weather condition, an air density, and the like.Additionally, the elevation may be determined by a second, additionalelevation determined for any additional efficiency desired by the droneoperator. For example, the additional elevation may serve to enable theUAV to glide more if release from the winch line at a higher elevation.In one aspect, the motor of the winch system may operate continuously,and the UAV may simultaneously determine the UAV's elevation using oneor more UAV sensors (e.g., altitude sensors, GPS signals, and the like).In another aspect, when the UAV determines that the UAV has reached apre-determined elevation, a component of the UAV (e.g., the UAV's armand hand) may release from a cable associated with the winch system andthen transport the package to its destination.

At block 708, a first aerial component may be positioned at a secondelevation and the first aerial component may be connected to the groundcomponent by the cable. Moreover, the elevation may be determined by asecond, additional elevation determined for any additional efficiencydesired by the drone operator. For example, the additional elevation mayserve to enable the UAV to glide more if release from the winch line ata higher elevation. In one aspect, the motor of the winch system mayoperate continuously, and the UAV may simultaneously determine the UAV'selevation using one or more UAV sensors (e.g., altitude sensors, GPSsignals, and the like). In another aspect, when the UAV determines thatthe UAV has reached a pre-determined elevation, a component of the UAV(e.g., the UAV's arm and hand) may release from a cable associated withthe winch system and then transport the package to its destination.Further, as noted, in some aspects, embodiments of the disclosure mayinclude an aerial component. In one aspect, the aerial component mayinclude a passive aerial element (e.g., a balloon such as a weatherballoon), or an active aerial element (e.g., a blimp having a motor tomaintain a relatively fixed position for a given duration of time, forexample, by resisting wind currents).

One or more operations of the methods, process flows, and use cases ofFIGS. 1-7 may be performed by one or more engines, program module(s),applications, or the like executable on electronic device. It should beappreciated, however, that such operations may be implemented inconnection with numerous other device configurations.

The operations described and depicted in the illustrative methods andprocess flows of FIGS. 1-7 may be carried out or performed in anysuitable order as desired in various example embodiments of thedisclosure. Additionally, in certain example embodiments, at least aportion of the operations may be carried out in parallel. Furthermore,in certain example embodiments, less, more, or different operations thanthose depicted in FIGS. 1-7 may be performed.

Although specific embodiments of the disclosure have been described, oneof ordinary skill in the art will recognize that numerous othermodifications and alternative embodiments are within the scope of thedisclosure. For example, any of the functionality and/or processingcapabilities described with respect to a particular device or componentmay be performed by any other device or component. Further, whilevarious illustrative implementations and architectures have beendescribed in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure, one ofordinary skill in the art will appreciate that numerous othermodifications to the illustrative implementations and architecturesdescribed herein are also within the scope of this disclosure.

Blocks of the block diagrams and flow diagrams support combinations ofmeans for performing the specified functions, combinations of elementsor steps for performing the specified functions, and program instructionmeans for performing the specified functions. It will also be understoodthat each block of the block diagrams and flow diagrams, andcombinations of blocks in the block diagrams and flow diagrams, may beimplemented by special-purpose, hardware-based computer systems thatperform the specified functions, elements or steps, or combinations ofspecial-purpose hardware and computer instructions.

A software component may be coded in any of a variety of programminglanguages. An illustrative programming language may be a lower-levelprogramming language such as an assembly language associated with aparticular hardware architecture and/or operating system platform. Asoftware component comprising assembly language instructions may requireconversion into executable machine code by an assembler prior toexecution by the hardware architecture and/or platform.

A software component may be stored as a file or other data storageconstruct. Software components of a similar type or functionally relatedmay be stored together such as, for example, in a particular directory,folder, or library. Software components may be static (e.g.,pre-established or fixed) or dynamic (e.g., created or modified at thetime of execution).

Software components may invoke or be invoked by other softwarecomponents through any of a wide variety of mechanisms. Invoked orinvoking software components may comprise other custom-developedapplication software, operating system functionality (e.g., devicedrivers, data storage (e.g., file management) routines, other commonroutines and services, etc.), or third-party software components (e.g.,middleware, encryption, or other security software, database managementsoftware, file transfer or other network communication software,mathematical or statistical software, image processing software, andformat translation software).

Software components associated with a particular solution or system mayreside and be executed on a single platform or may be distributed acrossmultiple platforms. The multiple platforms may be associated with morethan one hardware vendor, underlying chip technology, or operatingsystem. Furthermore, software components associated with a particularsolution or system may be initially written in one or more programminglanguages, but may invoke software components written in anotherprogramming language.

Computer-executable program instructions may be loaded onto aspecial-purpose computer or other particular machine, a processor, orother programmable data processing apparatus to produce a particularmachine, such that execution of the instructions on the computer,processor, or other programmable data processing apparatus causes one ormore functions or operations specified in the flow diagrams to beperformed. These computer program instructions may also be stored in acomputer-readable storage medium (CRSM) that upon execution may direct acomputer or other programmable data processing apparatus to function ina particular manner, such that the instructions stored in thecomputer-readable storage medium produce an article of manufactureincluding instruction means that implement one or more functions oroperations specified in the flow diagrams. The computer programinstructions may also be loaded onto a computer or other programmabledata processing apparatus to cause a series of operational elements orsteps to be performed on the computer or other programmable apparatus toproduce a computer-implemented process.

Although embodiments have been described in language specific tostructural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understoodthat the disclosure is not necessarily limited to the specific featuresor acts described. Rather, the specific features and acts are disclosedas illustrative forms of implementing the embodiments. Conditionallanguage, such as, among others, “can,” “could,” “might,” or “may,”unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within thecontext as used, is generally intended to convey that certainembodiments could include, while other embodiments do not include,certain features, elements, and/or steps. Thus, such conditionallanguage is not generally intended to imply that features, elements,and/or steps are in any way required for one or more embodiments or thatone or more embodiments necessarily include logic for deciding, with orwithout user input or prompting, whether these features, elements,and/or steps are included or are to be performed in any particularembodiment.

Example embodiments of the disclosure may include one or more of thefollowing examples:

Example 1 may include a system, comprising: a first component at a firstelevation, wherein the first component is operatively connected to awinch; a second component at a second elevation higher than the firstelevation; and a lifting component comprising a cable, the cable:operatively connected to the first component and the second component,configured to connect to and disconnect from a vehicle, and configuredto lift the vehicle from the first component towards the secondcomponent using the winch.

Example 2 may include the system of example 1, wherein the vehicleincludes an unmanned aerial vehicle.

Example 3 may include the system of example 1 and/or some other examplesherein, wherein the cable is a first cable, and wherein the systemfurther comprises a lowering component comprising a second cable, thelowering component configured to lower the vehicle toward the firstelevation using the winch.

Example 4 may include the system of example 1 and/or some other examplesherein, wherein the lifting component includes a motor, the motorincluding at least one of an electric motor, a hydraulic, a pneumaticmotor, or an internal combustion motor.

Example 5 may include the system of example 1 and/or some other examplesherein, wherein the second component includes a balloon, a blimp, or athermal airship.

Example 6 may include the system of example 1 and/or some other examplesherein, wherein the second component is passive against air currents oractively resists air currents.

Example 7 may include the system of example 1 and/or some other examplesherein, wherein the first component includes a stationary component or amobile component.

Example 8 may include the system of example 7 and/or some other examplesherein, wherein the stationary component includes a distribution centerand the mobile component includes a second vehicle.

Example 9 may include the system of example 1 and/or some other examplesherein, wherein the cable configured to lift the vehicle between thefirst component and the second component using the winch furthercomprises the cable configured to lift the vehicle to a third elevationthat is lower than the second elevation.

Example 10 may include the system of example 9 and/or some otherexamples herein, wherein the third elevation is based on a traveldistance for transporting the payload by the vehicle.

Example 11 may include the system of example 1 and/or some otherexamples herein, wherein the first component may include a charging unitfor charging the vehicle.

Example 12 may include a system, comprising: a first component at afirst elevation, wherein the first component is operatively connected toa winch; a second component at a second elevation higher than the firstelevation: a lifting component comprising a cable, the cable:operatively connected to the first component and the second component,configured to connect to and disconnect from a vehicle, and configuredto lift the vehicle from the first component towards the secondcomponent using the winch; and a third component at a third elevation,the third component configured to receive the vehicle from the secondcomponent.

Example 13 may include the system of example 12 and/or some otherexamples herein, wherein the vehicle is a first component, and whereinthe second component is further configured to receive a second vehiclefrom the third component.

Example 14 may include the system of example 12 and/or some otherexamples herein, wherein the vehicle includes an unmanned aerialvehicle.

Example 15 may include the system of example 12 and/or some otherexamples herein, wherein the cable is a first cable, and wherein thesecond component further comprises a lowering component comprising asecond cable, the lowering component configured to vertically lower thevehicle to a ground level using the winch.

Example 16 may include the system of example 12 and/or some otherexamples herein, wherein the second component is passive against aircurrents or actively resists air currents.

Example 17 may include the system of example 12 and/or some otherexamples herein, wherein the first component includes a stationarycomponent or a mobile component.

Example 18 may include the system of example 12 and/or some otherexamples herein, wherein the first component includes one of astationary component that includes a distribution center or a mobilecomponent that includes a second vehicle.

Example 19 may include a method, comprising: positioning a firstcomponent at a first elevation, and operatively connecting the firstcomponent to a winch; positioning a second component at a secondelevation higher than the first elevation; and configuring cable of alifting component to: operatively connect to the first component and thesecond component, connect to and disconnect from a vehicle, and lift thevehicle from the first component towards the second component using thewinch.

Example 20 may include the method of example 19 and/or some otherexamples herein, wherein the vehicle includes an unmanned aerialvehicle.

Embodiments according to the disclosure are in particular disclosed inthe attached claims directed to a method, a storage medium, a device anda computer program product, wherein any feature mentioned in one claimcategory, e.g., method, can be claimed in another claim category, e.g.,system, as well. The dependencies or references back in the attachedclaims are chosen for formal reasons only. However, any subject matterresulting from a deliberate reference back to any previous claims (inparticular multiple dependencies) can be claimed as well, so that anycombination of claims and the features thereof are disclosed and can beclaimed regardless of the dependencies chosen in the attached claims.The subject-matter which can be claimed comprises not only thecombinations of features as set out in the attached claims but also anyother combination of features in the claims, wherein each featurementioned in the claims can be combined with any other feature orcombination of other features in the claims. Furthermore, any of theembodiments and features described or depicted herein can be claimed ina separate claim and/or in any combination with any embodiment orfeature described or depicted herein or with any of the features of theattached claims.

The foregoing description of one or more implementations providesillustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or tolimit the scope of embodiments to the precise form disclosed.Modifications and variations are possible in light of the aboveteachings or may be acquired from practice of various embodiments.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system, comprising: a first component at afirst elevation, wherein the first component is operatively connected toa winch; a second component at a second elevation higher than the firstelevation; and a lifting component comprising a cable, the cable:operatively connected to the first component and the second component,configured to connect to and disconnect from a vehicle, and configuredto lift the vehicle from the first component towards the secondcomponent using the winch.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicleincludes an unmanned aerial vehicle.
 3. The system of claim 1, whereinthe cable is a first cable, and wherein the system further comprises alowering component comprising a second cable, the lowering componentconfigured to lower the vehicle toward the first elevation using thewinch.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the lifting component includesa motor, the motor including at least one of an electric motor, ahydraulic, a pneumatic motor, or an internal combustion motor.
 5. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the second component includes a balloon, ablimp, or a thermal airship.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein thesecond component is passive against air currents or actively resists aircurrents.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the first component includesa stationary component or a mobile component.
 8. The system of claim 7,wherein the stationary component includes a distribution center and themobile component includes a second vehicle.
 9. The system of claim 1,wherein the cable configured to lift the vehicle between the firstcomponent and the second component using the winch further comprises thecable configured to lift the vehicle to a third elevation that is lowerthan the second elevation.
 10. The system of claim 9, wherein the thirdelevation is based on a travel distance for transporting a payloadassociated with the vehicle.
 11. The system of claim 1, wherein thefirst component may include a charging unit for charging the vehicle.12. A system, comprising: a first component at a first elevation,wherein the first component is operatively connected to a winch; asecond component at a second elevation higher than the first elevation:a lifting component comprising a cable, the cable: operatively connectedto the first component and the second component, configured to connectto and disconnect from a vehicle, and configured to lift the vehiclefrom the first component towards the second component using the winch;and a third component at a third elevation, the third componentconfigured to receive the vehicle from the second component.
 13. Thesystem of claim 12, wherein the vehicle is a first vehicle, and whereinthe second component is further configured to receive a second vehiclefrom the third component.
 14. The system of claim 12, wherein thevehicle includes an unmanned aerial vehicle.
 15. The system of claim 12,wherein the cable is a first cable, and wherein the second componentfurther comprises a lowering component comprising a second cable, thelowering component configured to vertically lower the vehicle to thefirst elevation using the winch.
 16. The system of claim 12 wherein thesecond component is passive against air currents or actively resists aircurrents.
 17. The system of claim 12, wherein the first componentincludes a stationary component or a mobile component.
 18. The system ofclaim 12, wherein the first component includes one of a stationarycomponent that includes a distribution center or a mobile component thatincludes a second vehicle.
 19. A method, comprising: positioning a firstcomponent at a first elevation, and operatively connecting the firstcomponent to a winch; positioning a second component at a secondelevation higher than the first elevation; and configuring cable of alifting component to: operatively connect to the first component and thesecond component, connect to and disconnect from a vehicle, and lift thevehicle from the first component towards the second component using thewinch.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the vehicle includes anunmanned aerial vehicle.